Starring Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult, and Aidan Gillen, Those Who Wish Me Dead follows a smokejumper who comes across a young boy and tries to help him escape two assassins. Directed by Taylor Sheridan, the film will leave viewers on a thrill ride as it is filled with brilliant action sequences and great performances from the cast. Also, Jolie exhibits her finesse as an action star and is again remarkable in her latest role.
Of course, action films are generally entertaining to watch, whether it be the action itself or the story behind it. Also, Sheridan adds Western elements that make his movies different. Luckily, there is no shortage of action or Western films, and viewers can enjoy plenty more action-packed and thrilling content.
Only The Brave (2017) – Available To Rent On AppleTV & Vudu
Only the Brave follows the Granite Mountain Hotshots and focuses on the bond between the members and their lives with their families. The story ultimately leads up to the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire.
The film is packed with notable names, including Miles Teller, Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, and Jennifer Connelly, whose performances were well-received by critics. The story is emotional and serves as a tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives in the wildfire.
Man On Fire (2004) – Available To Buy On Redbox & AppleTV
Tony Scott presented a thrilling film, Man on Fire, starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning. An ex-CIA officer serves as a bodyguard for a businessman’s young daughter and develops a friendship with her. However, when she is kidnapped, he now seeks vengeance.
Man on Fire is not a perfect film, but it is compelling given Washington’s performance and has several exhilarating action sequences. Despite some mixed reviews, some critics and audiences found the film a worthy adaptation to the 1980 novel, written by A. J. Quinnell.
Aliens (1986) – Available On Prime Video
Alien is one of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time. Its sequel, Aliens, takes place about 57 years after the first film, and the stakes could not get any higher as the predators remain at large. Sigourney Weaver’s character soon finds a young girl who she must protect.
The sequel film been remarked as one of the best of all time and is even more intense and violent than the first film. Sigourney Weaver showcases her skills as an action star, resulting in her Oscar nomination for Best Actress, portraying one of the best and strongest female characters, Ripley.
Wind River (2017) – Available On The Roku Channel & Tubi
Taylor Sheridan established himself as a talented screenwriter and showed his skills as a director in Wind River. Starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, the film follows a local tracker and an FBI agent who try to solve the murder case of a Native American woman in Wyoming.
The movie featured the Western-style aesthetics typically seen in many of Taylor Sheridan’s stories. While the film is not as action-packed, the story is brilliant as it focuses on the characters and builds up to a thrilling and unexpected ending that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Searchers (1956) – Available To Buy On Amazon & AppleTV
The 1950s has some of the best Western films, including John Ford’s The Searchers. The movie focuses on a Civil War veteran who ventures on a journey to find his kidnapped niece.
Starring John Wayne, Natalie Wood, and Jeffrey Hunter, The Searchers is considered one of the greatest films, given its captivating story and characters. However, it is the cinematography that captures the beauty of Western landscapes. The Western-style of filmmaking has since influenced many other filmmakers to follow similar background detailing and sequencing techniques.
The Road (2009) – Available On Redbox & Pluto TV
In The Road, a father and son try to survive a post-apocalyptic world as they attempt to reach their destiny at sea. However, to do so, they must overcome the dangers.
The film has a dark tone and a slow story, but Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee carry the movie with their emotional and captivating performances. Their chemistry stands out in the film, showcasing the humanity that remains in this otherwise broken and savage world.
Léon: The Professional (1994) – Available On Starz
The world crashes down for 12-year-old Mathilda when her whole family is murdered. Léon, her neighbor and a professional hitman, takes her in as his protégé and helps her to seek justice against the people who killed her family.
Léon: The Professional was lauded for its stylish story and visuals and has become a cult classic. It was also Natalie Portman’s first featured film. Along with Jean Reno, both actors exhibit exceptional and powerful performances.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – Available On FuboTV & AMC+
The future depends on the existence of John Connor, who is prophesized to save humanity from Skynet. However, eleven years after the events of The Terminator, John’s life is at risk when an advanced T-1000 is sent back in time to terminate him. In response, the resistance from the future sends back a reprogrammed Terminator to protect him at all costs.
James Cameron surely knows how to reinvigorate any story and he does exactly that with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It is considered one of the best sequels of all time and perhaps the best Terminator film in the franchise due to its compelling story, thrilling action sequences, and brilliant visual effects. The film also won four Oscar awards.
Logan (2017) – Available On FuboTV & FXNOW
As mutants are becoming extinct, an aging Logan slowly loses his strength and power while taking care of an ill Charles Xavier. However, he encounters a young mutant, X-23, and soon embarks on his last journey to protect her.
Logan concludes The Wolverine story in the X-Men franchise, but it is not like any superhero movie. It is intense and emotional with breathtaking action sequences and visuals while also displaying a well-written, dark, and heartfelt story that leaves a lasting impact on viewers. Of course, Hugh Jackman once again showcases a powerful and gripping portrayal of his signature character and ends his tenure as The Wolverine on a high note.
No Country For Old Men (2007) – Available On FuboTV & HBO Max
A hunter becomes a target after he encounters a drug deal and takes the cartel’s money. It soon becomes a cat and mouse game between three people, with one trying to protect him and another trying to kill him.
No Country for Old Men is one of the best films of all time, having won several Oscar awards, including Best Picture. The movie never loses its momentum with intense and brilliant action sequences and a captivating and dark story that grabs the viewer’s attention. However, it is the performance from the cast that shines throughout the film, with Javier Bardem as the standout, leading to his deserved Oscar win for Best Supporting Award.
